Getting closer to firing her up again...

dgcantrell · dgcantrell's Garage

Been working on the 88 S and about have it buttoned up for a test fire since replacing the oil cooler seals, waterpump (it was locked up), and timing belt. The belt was new but since it got hot with the locked up waterpump (ran for about 30-45 seconds before I noticed it smoking and shut'er off) and wasn't willing to take a change on the old belt. Got everything tensioned, torqued, and about ready to go. Just a few more small parts and I'll be firing her up this week, I hope.

I'm looking for a good air box for this one. This one is beat to death and the snorkel is missing. I cannot figure out why people are so impatient with the airbox on these cars that they literally beat the crap out of them getting them to sit in the opening for them. First and foremost is the orientation of the coolant hose clamps behind the box. Anywho, if anyone has one that is not cracked, missing any tabs with the threaded lugs for attaching the top half, let me know. I might be interested in purchasing it.

GostRidr · 03-26-2016, 06:34 PM

Hey DG,

Congrats and thanks for posting the pics. Sadly, my S airbox and replacement also fall in to the category you are trying to avoid. Good luck in the search and the soon to be start!

dgcantrell · dgcantrell's Garage

Well, scratch firing it up any time this week. I bought a used fuel pump last fall and got it running for that 30-45 seconds until I realized the timing belt was smoking against a seized water pump. Well, the sunnofa***** won't run now. $90 for 45 seconds..

GostRidr · 04-01-2016, 11:28 AM

Wait, what?! Just re read, the water pump was seized before and you fixed it right? Are you saying the fuel pump isn't working now? Or there is another new issue? FREAKING gremlins either way!

You know, the disease runs deep. You've been helping me on my white 87S and I have a lot to learn before it runs again. My 6 year old son was with me in the garage just yesterday and said, "Why does this car look so good to me?" I smiled at learning that he has the disease already and realized I enjoy the hunt of getting it running again one day almost as much as driving it! Good luck and keep us posted!

911tracker85 · 04-02-2016, 05:34 AM

when doing the "full monty" on the 87 944S, bead blasted and painted the air box cover.

fired it up and purrs like a kitten. now finishing up the suspension upgrade on my 951 DE track car.....

good luck

dgcantrell · dgcantrell's Garage

Yeah.. The first attempt at firing it up was last fall. I had drained all the gas from the tank by pulling the supply line from the pump. It really wasn't in too bad a shape but was stale as hell (just a couple of gallons)... The pump that was on the car did not want to run so I snagged a used one off eBay. Put it on and the car fired up and ran fine after only about two 5 second cranking cycles. I had pulled the timing belt covers to inspect it and fired the engine up without them on it. I'm glad I did as initially I thought the little bit of smoke was the WD-40 oversprayed onto the exhaust was the culprit. Then I smelled rubber and saw exactly where the smoke was coming from. Killed the ignition immediately. The PO has suspected the waterpump was going bad but it had set for almost 5 years. So it had seized. It was nasty when I pulled it out. Rusty crud and I couldn't get it to budge with a pipe wrench... There was very little coolant left in the engine (just what was behind the waterpump in the block). When I pulled the hard coolant pipe that runs from the head to the radiator, I noticed oil in it.. I suspected the classic oil cooler seal failure.. Turned out to be a pin hole on the oil cooler on the outside were someone had pried it out replacing the seals before. Just a small tear. I drilled it bigger and stuff the pin hole with JB-weld. It should be fine. Put all that back together. Tried to fire it last weekend and the fuel pump that I got back in the fall that had run for a total of 45 seconds would not come on.... grrrrrr.....

Anyway, I hope to get it running and drive it a bit when I can. Somebody painted the intake and valve cover a crappy purple color.... That crap is coming off and I'll powdercoat the intake silver and the valve cover red. The car will need a paint job as the clear coat is peeling off. The interior will need some work too. I plan on getting re-upholster set for the seats and a dash cover.. Carpets are still in good shape though. I'll need to replace the magnesium cam gear housing at some point. It's staring to crumble. I figured I'd bit the bullet and get one of those aluminum ones from 944online...